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High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder

HIRDLS SCIENCE


HIRDLS high vertical resolution agrees well with
COSMIC data down to of order 2 km resolution.

The overall scientific goal of HIRDLS is to optimize the contribution of HIRDLS to solving key scientific issues under the major themes of the Aura mission.

  • Is the stratospheric ozone layer recovering?
  • How is global air quality changing?
  • How is the Earth's climate changing?

A key attribute of HIRDLS is the ability to measure at high vertical resolution (~1 km), which is significantly better than other instruments on Aura. Many of the physical processes of interest to Aura, especially in the upper troposphere / lower stratosphere (UTLS) region, occur on short vertical scales (< 5 km). High vertical resolution from HIRDLS, together with near-global sampling on a daily basis, will provide unique information to complement the other Aura measurements for understanding and quantifying such processes. Additionally, HIRDLS will contribute a number of measurements unavailable from other Aura instruments, especially measurements related to UTLS aerosols and clouds.


Standard released product, version 2.04.09 temperature.
Zonal means 28 Jan 05 to 2 Jan 08. Averaged over 75 to 80 N.

V2.04.09 temperature with mean over period subtracted.
Shows semiannual oscillation at high levels, annual at
bottom and quasi-biennial oscillation in between.